29AUG2019 TICAD7TICAD VII
TOWARDS POPULATION AGEING IN AFRICA
Population ageing and health in Africa

LIFE EXPECTANCY AT
BIRTH BY CONTINENTPr Awa Marie Coll Seck
National Committee Chair
Initiative for Transparency in Extractive Industries (ITEI)Former Minister of healthSenegal

12AGE PYRAMID BY SEXLIFE EXPECTANCYPROGRESSION

34ELDERLY IS BECOMING A PRIORITY IN AFRICA

AGEING IN AFRICA

 In sub-Saharan Africa, political and health authorities are clearly

announcing that the elderly are one of the priority vulnerable
groups are gradually becoming a priority population.

 In anticipation of the growth in the elderly population, health andsocial service providers will increasingly turn to government forhelp.

 Somecountries, including South Africa, Benin, Nigeria or
Senegal, have developed action plans to protect, promote orcare for the elderly. These plans reflect the recommendations of
the second World Assembly on Ageing (Madrid 2002) or WHO
Strategies.

 Thegovernment will be expected to initiate policies andstrategies that will support older people.

 Governments in the developing countries will be faced with both

new and old challenges.

5

6More concretely for the elderly, countries such as South Africa,
have set up pension systems different from those reserved onlyfor Retirees. Some, like Senegal, offer free basic health services.

29AUG2019 TICAD7ELDERLY AND HEALTH STATUTS IN SENEGALELDERLY AND HEALTH STATUTS (2)In Africa, there is realsolidarity with the elderly.
But traditions are being
lost here as elsewhere.

 The care of elderly people in Senegal is part ofsocial dynamics and mechanisms that arevery different from those in developedcountries.

 Now,

we observe a decline of community solidarity networks,intergenerational distancing and the dependent elderly person
appears sometimes as a concern particularly in cities, a challenge forthe family.

 Aid is segmented and fragmented according to the possibilities and Traditionallyelders are at the center of thefamily, guardian of collective heritage ofancestral and religious values, respected andnever discriminated.

role of each family member.
 In addition, lifestyle changes are accompanied by the development ofchronic diseases and age-related pathologies resulting in disabilities.

 Perceptions

and representations around oldage and disability are changing a great deal.

 Veryfew older people have access to a pension and are often
disconnected from the few specialized facilities.

78

STRATEGIES PUT IN PLACE FOR THE
ELDERLY IN SENEGAL Retirement

insurance

InstituteofSenegal(IPRES)

PLAN SESAME
Free minimum Packadge:
1958
 Consultations; Plan Sesame 2006
 Essential medicines (as part of the Bamako

Initiative); Gratuity and subsidies including elders

Diabetis: Insulin, Paramedical basic exams;

Dialysis
Anticancer drug Surgical and medical procedures;

 Special projects. Ex.: RAMA Project 2018

Elderly Support Project Hospitalizations.

 Private clinics and home care

910

PLAN SESAME INTO ACTION 2

PLAN SESAME INTO ACTION Although, the Sesame Health Programme is officially free of charge,

 A study was done to determine the leading cause of consultation,

most of the drugs used to treat chronic diseases, remained at thecharge of patients and/or their families (estimated to be 55$ permonth).

costs borne by beneficiaries and/or their families.

 A one month comprehensive, cross-sectional, quantitative study

was conducted in one of the Dakar gerontology centre.

 Dysfunctions were observed, particularly: The study population was composed of 203 patients with a mean

age of 68 years old, with 59% of women.
11The most common diseases were hypertension (52%), cataract(16%), osteoarthritis (12%) and Diabetis (8%).

12the difficulty of targeting beneficiaries,

generic stock shortages,absence of generics for the treatment of chronic diseases,

delay or no reimbursement to the health structure.

29AUG2019 TICAD7PROJET RAMA

 Identification of elderly people in situations of socio-healthvulnerability

MANAGEMENT: Ministry Health and nutritional care of the elderly (use of the WHOof Health and Welfare (MSAS) and First Lady

validated guide)

PROJECT
RAMADESIGNFoundation : Foundation serve Senegal

OBJECTIVE:
 Improving

the well-being of older adults with socio-health Psycho-emotional and social support for seniors
 Improving the living environment of the elderly

Equipment support based on the condition of the elderly personand their environmentSupport in consumables to improve hygiene according to thecondition of the elderlyConstruction of toilets and/or installation of adapted toilets if theliving environment of the elderly person allows

vulnerabilities

1314

CONCLUSIONRECOMMANDATIONS

Although the proportion of elders is still lower than 5% in Senegal, their
number is increasing.

 Adoption of a community based approach strengthening families
 Holistic approach

We need to propose strategies and action plan adapted to our socioeconomic and cultural context which highly considers the elderly.

 Provide training for specialized geriatic personnel

Senegalese proverbs are very enlightening, i.e.: Strengthening health system with decentralized structures for elders
 Include in the list of essential medicines those for most common

diseases in the elderly;« An elderly who dies is an burning library »« An old person is the cement of the community ».

 Integrate elderly specificity in all relevant health and social national

There are many challenges ahead!

 Appropriate financing of ageing action PlanAt the same time, we have to learn and to be open to countries
experimenting already an ageing population situation.

programs ( vaccination, nutrition, community health…)

15

16